U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team ties Mexico 1-1, takes second place at 2012 AGS Cup

The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team earned a 1-1 draw against Mexico on Saturday and finished in second place at the 2012 AGS Cup in Spain after ending the five-game tournament level on total points with Mexico, but trailing in goal differential.

The result marks the second straight year the U-17 MNT has finished in second place at the AGS Cup, and the second consecutive year Mexico has won the tournament.

Needing a win against Mexico, the U.S. couldn’t capitalize on two chances from inside the box as the team saw a penalty kick miss the target and failed to convert an indirect free kick inside the box following a six-second violation on Mexico’s goalkeeper.

Alejandro Diaz Liceaga gave Mexico an early lead in the 27^th minute after scoring from an indirect free kick inside the penalty box after U.S. goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell was whistled for taking longer than six seconds to put the ball back into play.

Forward Rubio Rubin found the equalizer for the U.S. in the 56^th minute. The U-17 MNT ended the tournament with a record of 3-1-1 with 10 points.

Along with the second-place finish, defender Shaquell Moore, Rubin and Caldwell all earned spots on the tournament’s Best XI team. Ahinga Selemani and Rubin ended the tournament with two goals apiece to lead the U-17 MNT.

The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team is back in action from Oct. 18-29 in Argentina for a four-team tournament, plus an international friendly. More details, along with the roster announcement from head coach Richie Williams, will be announced at a later date.

-U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team Game Report-

Match: U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team vs. Mexico
Competition: AGS Cup 2012
Location: Ciutat Esportiva Camilo Cano; La Nucia, Spain
Date:  Oct. 6, 2012
Weather:  60 degrees

Scoring Summary             1     2      F
USA                                    0     1      1
MEX                                    1     0      1

MEX – Alejandro Diaz Liceaga                     27^th minute
USA – Rubio Rubin                                    56

Lineups
USA: 1-Jeff Caldwell; 3-John Requejo Jr., 14- Conor Donovan, 2-Shaq Moore, 13-Elijah Martin; 16-Ben Swanson (6-Rolando Muñoz, 51), 20-Chris Lema, 10-Junior Flores, 7-Alan Winn (19-Mukwelle Akale, 77); 9-Ahinga Selemani (17-Wesley Wade, 62), 11-Rubio Rubin
Subs Not Used: 4-Jorge Miranda, 5-Tyler Turner, 8-Angel Heredia, 12-Paul Christensen, 15-Bryce Cregan, 18-Corey Baird
Head Coach: Richie Williams

MEX: 1-Raul Manolo Gudino Vega; 5-Osvaldo Rodriguez Del Portal, 3-Jose Carlos Robles Mejia (13-Jose Villegas Cruz, 41), 14-Alexis Ramses Gomez Martinez, 2-Francisco Jesus Calderon Flores; 7-Luis Enrique Hernandez Casiano, 6-Ulises Rivas Gillio, 15-Nicolas Govea Garcia Omar (8-Joseph Emmanuel Alacantar Gonzalez De la Llave, 76), 10-Ivan Fernando Ochoa Chavez (20-Victor Manuel Zuniga Medina, 67), 9-Alejandro Diaz Liceaga (19-Jesus Rene Delgado Palma, 61), 17-Marco Antonio Granados Villegas (11-Ulises Jaimes Huerta, 62)
Subs Not Used: 4-Erich Ramon, 12-Edson Alan Resendez Sanchez, 16-Jonathan Hernandez Ortega, 18-David Navarro Montalvo
Head Coach:  Raul Erasto Gutierrez Jacobo

Misconduct Summary:
USA – Conor Donovan (caution)                                     80^th minute
USA – Conor Donovan (second caution, ejection)             80